Clock-winding mechanism



.23 192 a Aug 7 A.- w. FOWLER CLOCK WINDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 16,1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 23, 1927 I A. W. FOWLER CLOCK WINDINGMECHANISM J WK .1 l rddlltlremrnrrfira'rt 75,12 .14 511/515 Elli/11115147/ Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNITEDJIST'AJTES PATENT OFFICE;

.AIRN'O W. FOWLER, OF COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS.

CLOCK-WINDING MECHANISM.

Application filed August 16, 1926. Serial No,129,3 64.

This invention relates to a clock winding mechanism, and comprises awinding device I under controlof the timing mechanism of the clock andequipped with an electric motor for winding purposes providedfwith anelectric circuit,equippedwvith a switch, and a controlling devicetherefor whereby the switch .is opened and closed properly. ,An objectof theinventionis to provide a clock winding mechanism embodying theconstruction and characterized by the modeof o tieration above stated,ingeneral terms, and possessing the advantages apparent and inherent. inthe construction hereinafter more particularly described whethercontained in a clock to indicate time only, or

in a clock. equipped with striking mechanism and separate actuatorsforthe time indicating mechanism and. striking mechanism, wherein operationof the striking mechanism is controlled bythe runningof the timeindicating mechanism, and the motor for each actuator is controlledbythe mechanism with which it is associated.

Other objects will appear from the following description, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings, inwhich F ig. 1 is a plan viewof aclock work com prising time indicating and striking mechanisms andhaving my improved winding device operatively connected with it.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation with parts of the supporting frame platesbroken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the connection of the motorwith the winding device and switch control.

Fig. 1 is an enlarged view showing parts of the switch opening device; 1a Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing a portion ofthe switch closingdevice.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross. sectional view showing one of the clockactuating springs and the relationship to the switch actuators.

Fig. 7 is a, detail sectional view of the switch in an intermediateposition across which the switch moves when being operated from closedto open pos1t1on,.and vice versa.

Fig. 8 is a view showingthe relationship and direction of movement ofthe switch actuators. i f

The time indicatingmechanism comprises a shaft 1 to which one end of anactuating spring 2 is attached, the opposite end of said spring beingconnected with a spring barrel 3 n which the spring is enclosed. Thespring barrel 3 is attached to a large gear wheel 4 loosely supportedupon, the shaft 1 V and vin mesh with a worm 5 rigid on the. shaft 6.ofan electric motor '7. HVVhenthe motor is operated the. shaft 6 andWorm 5 and thereby gear wheel La-re rotatedin a direction to wind thespring 2, which grad.-

ually unwinds as it operates the clock mechanism.

The twofcircuit wires for the motor are indicated by. 8 and 9,respectively. Each of thecircuit wires is provided with a contacttermmal 10 in the. cavity of a hollow insulating switch block 11..The contact 7 terminals '10are in spaced relationship so that the gapbetween them must be bridged to close the circuit. Theswitch shown moreparticularly in FigsgT and 8 is of known construction, comprising acircumferentially grooved roller 12 operative within the switch block 11to and from position to bridge the gap between the contact terminals 10of the electric circuit .wires asrequired to close andto openthe circuitto the motor. The device for: actuating the roller 12 to open and toclose the circuit comprises a lever 13 which, when moved to the positionof thedotted line 14 (Fig. 7 causes the roller 12-to assume theposition. outlined by dotted lines at 15 closing the circuit; and,whenthe lever 13 is moved'to the position- -of the dotted line 16 itcauses ,,the roller to assume the position outlined by dotted lines at17 opening the circuit. Since theswitch is of known construction andmode of op eration and it is known that the switch operates in this way,further detailed descripvtion thereof is-not necessary. a

. The invention -compr1s1ng the device" for. actuating th .SWltChtQ.close and to open the circuit may be readily understood by'pro ceedingwith the description on the assump:

tion that the clock is running from a preceda ing winding. When theclock is running the shaft 1 is slowly turned by the spring 2 (Fig. 6).A pinion 18 attached to the shaft 1 meshes with and operates a pinion 19rotative on a stud'20and' provided with and connected to a hub or sleeve21 to which a disc 22 is attached. The disc 22 supports a pair oflaterally projecting pins 23. The disc 22 is attached to a hub 24 which,in turn, is attached to and rotates with the sleeve 21. The hub 24 isprovided with an end flange 25. An arm 26 is pivoted on the hub 24between the flange 25 and the spacing washer 27, said washer holding thearm 26 spaced from the disc 22. The arm 26 extends between the two pins23; Then the clock is running the disc 22 and the arm 26 are operated ina clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow 28 (Fig. 8). A spring29 connects the arm 26 with the disc 22 and yieldingly holds said armagainst the advance pin 23. When the switch is open the lever 13 is onthe 1ine16 (Fig. 7) and in the position shown in Fig. 8, and is in'thepath of movement of a pin 30 on the end of the arm 26. By the running ofthe clock the pin 30 is moved into contact with the outer side of thelever 13. The resistance to the operation of the lever 13 is greaterthan the power of the spring 29, so that said spring yields and theswitch is ,not operated until the rear pin 23 engages and moves the arm26 a suliicient distance to move said lever 13 beyond the middleposition shown in solid lines (Fig. 7) toward closed position 14;whereupon, as is known the switch automatically snaps to closed positionl t-15. Thereupon the spring 29 acts to move the arm 26 quickl againstthe advance pin 23 where it is hel until a subsequent operation of theswitch thereby.

Closing of the circuit by moving the lever 13 to closed position 14 andthe roller 12 to position 15 (Fig. 7) causes the motor to opcrate, withthe result that the wheel 4 is turned in a counterclockwise direction,as indicated by the arrow 31 (Fig. 8) to wind the spring 2. The wheel 4is on a hub 32 having an end flange An arm 34 pivoted on the hub 32between the flange 33 and a spacing washer 35 which washer holds the arm34 spaced from the wheel 4. The arm 34 has a pin 36 extending betweenthe spokes of the wheel 4 and limiting extent of swinging movement ofsaid arm with respect to the wheel 4. A spring 37 connects the arm 34with the wheel 4 and yieldingly holds said arm in the position in whichthe pin 36 is against the adjacent spoke of the wheel 4, which is inadvance during counterclockwise turning movement of the wheel 4 in awinding operation. Vinding turning movement of the wheel 4 ultimatelyengages a. pin 38 on the arm 34 with the lever 13. The re sistance tothe operation oft-he lever 13 is greater than the power of the spring37, so that said spring yields and the switch is not operated until thepin 36 is in. engagement with the rear one of the two spokes of thewheel 4, between which said pin 36 extends,

and the pin 38 is thereby caused to move the lever 13 a sullicientdistance on the middle position shown in solid lines 7) toward openposition 16; whereupon, as is known, the switch automatically snaps toopen position 16-1.7.' Thereupon, the spring 3? acts to move the arm 34quickly to position in which the pin 36 is against the advance one oi?the two spokes of the wheel 4 between which said pin 36 extends, whereit is held until a subsequent winding operation caused by operating theswitch to closed position by the running of the clock, as previouslydescribed.

When the lever 13 is thus moved to open position 16, it is slightly toone side of the plane of the end of the pin 38 so that said lever 13 canbe moved to closed position 14 by the arm 26 and pin 30 during runningof the clock without being obstructed by the pin This result is obtainedby mounting the block 11 at such an angle of inclination that when. thelever 13 is in the open position 16, it is in the path of movement ofthe pin 30 and out of the path of movement of the pin 36; and, when thelever 13 in closed position 14, it is closer to the wheel 4 and in thepath of movement of the pin 38 for operation thereby to open the circuitat or about the time winding of the spring 2 completed.

The actuating shaft 1 of the striking and chiming mechanism of the wellknown type of clock shown is arranged to be operated intermittently by aspring enclosed in a barrel 3, in all respects similar to the spring 2which operates the shaft 1, so that it is unnecessary to illustrate indetail the spring 2 and its connection with the winding gear 4 which islike the winding gear 4.

The mechanism comprising the parts controls the operation of the shaft 1by 'd spring, and the Setting of the pa ts 4 ring and chiming operationsis, is well known, controlled by the running oi the time. indicatii'igniechanisn'i. The gear- '.-1 of the time indicating mechaniun torcontrolling the setting of the par 39 is shown but requires no detaildescription, as tlrsame is well known. For present purposes it issuilicient to assume that the strikand chiming devices are actuated asstated by the spring in the barrel 3. and that it is only necessary toretain the wheel 4" in the same manner that the wheel 4 rotated to windthe f'aid spring in the barrel 3.

31) its a added to the reference numerals of the striker windingmechanism; Thus, it will be understood 'tliatthe lever 13 is swung topositionto close the circuit to the motor 7 by the pin 30*;5that uponclosing the circuit to the motor'fl', themotor operates.

to wind thc'spring in the barrel 3". and. to cause the pin 38ultiniiately, at or about the time thewinding operation is completed,-to actuate the lever lii to open the circuit and stop the running of themotor. Thus the mechanismcomprising the striking 'dcvices, the Operationof which. is controlled in the usual way by operation of the timeindicating mechanism, is equipped with an independent w' iding device. M

From the foregoing it. will be seen that my improved winding mechanismis of a highly etlicient and satisfactory character,

and the operation thereof is automatically controlled and that it isnecessary to provide, only a comparatively few parts in ad dition to theusual clock mechanism; cost of the clock including the present inventionis not greatly increased over the cost of the clock without suchmecnanisin, considerable proportion of the additional. cost being'due tothe motor or motors. I The construct-ion and arrangement of the. partsmay be varied without departure from the nature and principle of theinvention in which respects 1 do not restrict myself une sentially, butclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent: v

I claim:

1. The combination with an actuating shaft and a spring for actuatingsaid shaft, of a gear wheel on said shaft for winding said spring, anelectric motor for rotating said gear wheel'to wind said spring, acircuit for said motor, a switch for opening and closing said circuit,'asupport, a, device pivoted on said support and operated by saidspring-in one direction for moving said switch to closed position, and adevice pivotally supported by said shaft and operated by said gear wheelin the opposite direction from said first device for moving said switchto open position.

2. The combination with an actuating shaft and a spring for actuatingsaid shaft, of an electric motor, means operated by said. motor forwinding said spring, an electric circuit for said motor, a switch foropening and closing said circuit, a support, an element rotative on saidsupport eccentrically of said shaft and actuated by said spring forclosing said switch once durin each complete rotation of said element,and

another rotative element pivoted concentrically with respect to saidshaft and driven by said winding means to open said switch once duringeach complete rotation of said other element.

' 3. The combination with an actuating The 7 ally support-edconcentricallywith, sa d disc,

means for operating said arm by said disc and permitting limited extentof movement of said arm relative to saido s a partop-w erated by saidarm to close said switch, an

arm pivotally supported concentrically with said gear wheel, and meansoperated. by said gear wheel for causing saidrsecond arm to open saidswitch. I 4. The combination with an shaft and a spring for rotatingsaid sha. ofa gear wheel loose on said shaft and, at} tached to saidspring for winding spring,;an electricmotor geared tosaidgear wheel forrotating said gear wheel in wind ing operations, an electric circuit forsaid motor, a switch for opening and closing said [for closing saidswitch. once (j irmg each complete rotation of said arm, an armpivotally supported adjacent to said gear wheel, andmeans for operatingsaid s cond armli said gearwheeland causing said second arm to opensaidswitch at the completion of a rotation of said second arm by saidgear wheel.

5. The combination wvith an actuating shaft and a spring for rotatiirsaid shaft, of a gear wheel loose on said s aft andattached to saidspring for winding said spring, an electric motor geared to said gearwheel for operating said gear 'wheelin'winding op erations andpreventing turning of saidgear circuit, a rotary arm driven by saidspring" wheel by said spring, an electric circuit for said motor, aswitch for opening and closing said circu t, means dr1ven by said springfor closing said switch, an arm pivotally supported adjacent to saidgear wheel for movement relative to saidgear wheel, means for operatmgsald arm by sa d gear wheel and causing said'arm to 0 en said switch atthe tached to said spring for winding said spring,

an electric motor geared to said gear wheel for operating said wheel inwinding operations and preventing turning of said gear wheelby saidspring, an. electric circuit for said motor, a switch element foropening and closing said circuit, a lever for moving said switchelement, a support, an arm pivoted on said support, means for rotatingsaid sup port by said spring, means on said support for actuating saidarm in one direction and causing said arm to move said lever to closethe switch, and an arm operatively connected with and moved by said gearwheel in the opposite direction from the movement of said first namedarm for actuating said lever to open the switch.

7. The combination with an actuating shaft and a spring for actuatingsaid shaft, of a gear Wheel on said shaft for winding said spring, anelectric motor for rotating said gear wheel to wind said spring, acircuit for said motor, a switch for opening and closing said. circuit,an element supported eccentrically of and rotated by said shaft, an armpivoted concentrically and adjacent to said element, means for rotatingsaid arm by said element and permitting limited extent of movement ofsaitL arm relative to said element, and means for actuating said s "itchby said arm to close said circuit.

8. The combination with an actuating shaft and a. spring for actuatingsaid shaft, of a gear wheel on said shaft for winding said spring, anelectric motor for rotating said gear wheel to wind said spring, acircuit for said motor, a switch for opening and closing said circuit,an element supported eccentrically of and concentrically rotated by saidshaft, an arm pivoted concentrically and adjacent to said element,abut-ments on said element limiting extent of and permitting independentmovement of said arm relative to said element, a spring connecting saidarm and said element, and a lateral-extension on said arm arranged toengage and operate said switch to closed position.

9. The combination with an actuating shaft and a spring for actuatingsaid shaft, of a gear wheel on said shaft for winding said spring, anelectric motor for rotating said gear ".vheel to wind said spring, acircuit for said motor, a switch for opening and closing said circuit,an element supported eccentrically of and rotated by said shaft, an arm.pivoted concentrically and ad jacent to said element, means for rotatingsaid arm by said element and )e1.mitting limited extent of movement ofsaid arm relative to said element, n'icans for actuating said. switch bysaid arm to close said circuit, an arm pivoted concentrically with andadjacent to said gear wheel, means for rotating said arm by said gearwheel, and means for operating said switch by said second arm to opensaid circuit.

10. The combination with an actuating shaft and a spring for actuatingsaid shaft, of a gear wheel on said shaft for winding said spring, anelectric motor for rotating said gear wheel to wind said spring, acircuit for said motor, a switch for opening and closing said circuit,an element rotated by said shaft, an arm pivoted adjacent to saidelement, abutments on said element limiting extentof and perniittingindepemlcnt movement of said arm relative to said ele ment, a springconnecting said arm and said element, a lateral extension on said armarranged to engage and operate said switch to closed position, an armpivoted adjacent to said gear wheel, means for rotating said arm by saidgear wheel, and means for operating said switch by said second arm toopen said circuit.

ARNO FOVLER.

